Kaleidoscopic device



April 25, 1939. w, DT

KALEIDOSCOPIC DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1958 INVENTOR W/L HELM SCHMIDT BY W a ATTORNEYS Apnl 25, 1939. w SCHMIDT KALEIDOSCOPIC DEVICE Filed March 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 2 4" n 1 I, F m 0 3 o 2 a 2 Z 2 $3 a m a n BU Z G 2 u M a u U ATTORN EYS T m M w 5A M a Him, M

INVENTOR April 25, 1939. w. SCHMIDT KALEIDOSGOPIC DEVICE Filed March 26, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fig /////////////////A INVENTOR W/LHELM 5CHM/DT 1k ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KALEIDOSCOPIC DEVICE New York, N. Y.

Application March 26,

Claims.

This invention relates to kaleidoscopes and the like and more particularly to a device of this character in which the kaleidoscopic principle has been applied to bring into view, successively, im-

5 ages or optical illusions of various objects and displays and held for periods of suflicient duration to enable an observer to perceive the same.

The fundamental principles of the invention have been described and illustrated in my application Serial Number 66,479, filed February 29, 1936. This application is a continuation in part thereof and contemplates certain improvements thereover.

The principal object is to provide a device or apparatus of the character indicated and described in said aforementioned application having a simplified and more efiicient mechanism for changing the images or illusions during the course of rotation of the pattern or patterns.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kaleidoscopic apparatus by which a series of successive or progressive images or illusions may be produced to give the appearance of an animated or moving object or objects.

.. Still a further object is to provide a switching mechanism for an apparatus'of the character indicated of simple, efficient and inexpensive construction by means of which the various patterns or displays may be successively illuminated.

W Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the specification proceeds and when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the improvement. It will be understood that this disclosure is made without limitation to the specific details shown therein and adaptations may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus embodying the invention showing one pattern or display mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the camming or switching mechanism according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of Figure 2.

As indicated the apparatus operates on the principle that images passing successively before the eye at the speed of fifteen or more a second 1938, Serial No. 198,244

will appear as moving or if the successive images are identical, the observer will receive the impression of a stationary picture or object.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, the reference character I ll indicates generally the apparatus having mounted thereon for projection or exposure a pattern or display II. The apparatus comprises outwardly a base plate l2, provided with legs l2a, a cover plate I3, a rotary plate or disc l4, having mounted thereon a housing I5, the latter terminating in a vertical support frame l6 for holding the various patterns or displays II.

The disc i4 is rotated by belt I! which is driven by a motor covered by the housing Hi.

The base plate i2 is provided with a central cap or recess I9 from which extends the stationary shaft member 29 which has mounted thereon the socket 2| and the electric light bulb 22.-

The cover plate is spaced from the base plate l2 by means of the peripheral vertical wall 23 so as to provide room for the lead cord 22a and held firmly in position on the base plate by means of bolts 24 and washer 25. The cover plate is recessed at 26 and 21 to accommodate respectively the drive portion 28 and the hub 29 which are formed integrally with the disc l4.

From the recess 21 of the cover plate extends the tubular stationary shaft 30, which at its upper end is threaded, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

The hub 29 is rotatable about the shaft 30 and a bushing 3| and a sweat ring 32 may be interposed to reduce the friction. This bushing and sweat ring may, of course, be substituted for by other bearings offering less friction such as ball bearings or thrust bearings.

The disc 33 is fixedly mounted on the disc M for rotation therewith. The bottom surface of the disc 33 is provided with brackets 35 in which the shaft 36 is rotatably supported. The shaft 36 in turn carries the pinion 31 (see Fig. 5) which engages the threads of the stationary shaft 30. Thus upon rotation of the disc 33 the pinion 31 will be turned the space of one tooth for each revolution. The stepwise rotation is transmitted to the pinion 38 by the worm 39 which is also mounted on shaft 36. The pinion 38 is mounted on the shaft 40 of the cam mechanism 4| and thus the latter is rotated in a similar manner.

The cam mechanism 4| comprises a circular disc 42 having a cam pin 43, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described, and a superimposed crescent disc 44. The periphery of the latter frictionally engages the concentric periphery of the arms 48 of the switch plate 45 which has the shape of a Maltese cross. Thus the crescent disc 44 will form a clutch for the switch plate 45 so that the latter will be rotated together with the disc 33 and the frame it. The arms 46 are separated by the slots ll.

The switch plate 45 is formed integral with the disc 48 which is mounted on the collar 49 of the disc 33. Because of the frictional engagement between the concentric arcs of the crescent disc 44 and the arms 46, the switch plate 45 as well as the disc 48 will be rotated together with the disc 33 and the drive 14.

The opaque shield 50 is removably mounted on the disc 48 by means of a conventional pin and slot arrangement and is rotated therewith. The shield 50 is provided with a slot or window 5| through which the light may be projected on one of the patterns or displays.

The arms 46 of the switch plate 45 are arranged to correspond with window 5| and the displays ii. Thus when the cam mechanism and the switch plate 45 are in engagement as shown in Figure 8, the window will be directly in front of one of the displays. The cam mechanism and the switch plate are also so calibrated that the pin 43 is moved the space equal to the space between each slot 41 with each step. The recess 52 of the cresent disc 44 is also so arranged that the arm 45 and the disc 34 will be freed from engagement when the pin 43 engages one of the slots 4?. Thus after the pin 43 has entered into the slot 4'! it will turn the switch plate together with the shield 55 the space of one arm with the next step, so that the window 5| will be directly in front of the succeeding pattern. On the next step of the cam disc l, and as the pin disengages the slot 47, the concentric arcs of the disc 4! and the arm will again come into frictional contact, so that the disc 33 together with the shield will again be rotated with the drive l4 and the display support IS.

The individual displays or patterns are preferably of the type described in my co-pending application Serial Number 198,245, filed March 26, 1938. They are preferably hollow, having side walls and an outer wall on which transparent areas are arranged according to the design or display the image of which is desired to be produced. They are slid into the channels 53 of the vertical frame l6 as shown in Figure 1 with the open end facing the shield. It will be understood that the space between the channels corresponds to the stepwise movement of the shield 50, the switch plate 45 and the cam mechanism so that the window 5| will always be directly in line with the open end of the hollow display II. The transparent areas will thus be illuminated and when the display is rotated it will produce a steady image of the object for which the display has been designed. The display usually does not include more than one-half of the object the image of which is to be produced, so that onehalf will appear on each side of the frame l6 when it is rotated.

The displays may also include various advertising matter, as explained in my co-pending application Serial Number 198,245, filed Mar. 25, 1938. Thus the rotation of the illuminated display will not only produce a three dimensional image of the object to be advertised but also the desired advertising matter will appear therein.

In order to make the apparatus more steady, the shield 50 may be resiliently pivoted within the frame Hi by means of the pivot 53 and the spring 54, and a counterweight 55 on the disc 33 may be provided to offset the effect of the cam mechanism when the disc is rotated.

The purposes to which the device lends itself are numerous. Thus the displays may be selected to portray various sequences in the advertising scheme and take the place of the conventional cinematographic apparatus used for projecting motion pictures. It may also be used as a toy or as a decorative article in the home. The apparatus may be easily hooked up to any double wall plug by means of the cord 22a and the cord 22b, the former for the light and the latter for the motor. The light as well as the motor may, of course, also be controlled from a single switch.

It will also be understood that the motor may also be arranged directly under the foot plate to drive the disc l4 directly and various other modifications may be made within the scope of the following claims. It will also be clear that instead of moving the shield, the switch mechanism may be employed to switch on successively separate lamps for illuminating the various patterns, without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A kaleidoscopic device of the character described comprising a rotatable frame and means for rotating the same, a plurality of displays having transparent areas according to the image to be produced supported on said frame and rotatable therewith, a stationary light source mounted within said frame, movable means for confining the light to a single one of said displays, and clutch means controlled by the rotation of said frame to move said light confining means stepwise with respect to said frame to illuminate successively said displays.

2. A kaleidoscopic device of the character described comprising a rotatable frame and means for rotating the same, a plurality of different displays having transparent areas according to the image to be produced supported on said frame and rotatable therewith, a stationary light source mounted within said frame, a shield about said light source and movable relative thereto having a window for confining the illumination to a single one of said displays, a switch plate car ried by said shield, and means normally forming a clutch between said frame and said shield carried by said frame and controlled by the rotation thereof for actuating said switch plate at predetermined intervals of time to move said shield stepwise with respect to said frame to illuminate successively said displays.

3. A Kaleidoscopic apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable frame and means for rotating the same, a plurality of different displays supported on said frame and rotatable therewith, means within said frame for illuminating said displays, a shield about said light means and movable relative thereto having a window for confining the illumination to a single one of said displays, a switch member carried by said shield, a clutch mechanism carried by said frame normally engaging said switch member and means carried by said clutch mechanism and controlled by the rotation of said frame for releasing said engagement and actuating said switch member to move said shield stepwise with respect to said frame at predetermined intervals whereby said displays will be successively illuminated during the rotation thereof.

4. A kaleidoscopic apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable frame and means for rotating the same, a plurality of different displays supported on said frame and rotatable therewith, means within said frame for illuminating said displays, a shield about said light means and movable relative thereto having a window for confining the illumination to a single one of said displays, a slotted switch member carried by said shield, an individually rotatable clutch mechanism carried by said frame andcontrolled by the rotation thereof normally engaging said switch member, cam means carried by said clutch mechanism for engaging said slotted switch member on each revolution of said clutch member, and separate means on said clutch member for releasing the engagement thereof with said switch member when said cam means engages the same, whereby said shield will be moved stepwise with respect to said frame on each revolution of said clutch mechanism to illuminate successively said displays.

5. A kaleidoscopic apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable frame and means for rotating the same, a plurality of different displays supported on said frame and rotatable therewith, means within said frame for illuminating said displays, a shield about said light means and movable relative thereto having a window for confining the illumination to a single one of said displays, a switch plate carried by said shield having the configuration of a Maltese cross the arms of which terminate in an inverted circular arc, an individually rotatable clutch mechanism carried by said frame and controlled by the rotation thereof having a crescent shaped disc the periphery of which is concentric with and normally engages the circular arc of said arms whereby said shield will be rotated together with said frame, a pin member opposite the cut-out portion of said crescent and mounted on said clutch mechanism for engagement on each revolution thereof with the slots between the arms of said Maltese cross plate whereby said shield will be unclutched and moved stepwise with respect to said frame to illuminate said displays successively.

WILHELM SCHMDJI. 

